Content usage rule management system

ABSTRACT

A content user terminal A 13  includes a utilization unit  135  that provides a content utilization, and an interface unit  137  that inquires the content utilization availability to the portable content usage rule management device A 17  via a wireless communication and obtains a content utilization permission data which is a inquiry result via a wireless communication. The above-mentioned utilization unit  135  provides the content utilization based on the obtained content utilization permission data. The portable content usage rule management device A 17  includes a copyright data storage management unit  173  that stores and manages the content usage rule, an interface unit  177  that receives the inquiry result of the content utilization availability from the content user terminal A 13  via a wireless communication, and a copyright data processing is unit  175  that responds to the received inquiry result, judges the content utilization availability based on the stored content usage rule and creates a content utilization permission data based on the judge result. The above-mentioned interface unit  177  sends the created content utilization permission data to the content user terminal A 13  via a wireless communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (1) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a copyright data managementsystem, and more particularly to a content usage rule management systemthat conducts a management processing of a digital copyright and a usagerule when using a content.

[0003] (2) Description of the Related Art

[0004] In the conventional copyright management system, an IC card,secured and inserted into a content user terminal, is used for managinga copyright data and conducting a content usage management processing.When a user wants to utilize a content, with another user terminalbesides the terminal that is operating at the moment, using apre-holding content usage rule (data which indicates a scope of theright for the content usage right quantitatively, that how much contentcan we utilize under what kind of circumstances), that is, when a userwants to carry around his own content usage rule, the user should make agood preparation for the own content usage rule to be written to an ICcard anytime. And the portability for the content usage rule is securedby inserting the IC card, in which the content usage rule is alwaysbeing written, to the other user terminal, and the content can beutilized.

[0005] As an example of conducting a management with the IC card, thereis a conditional receiving method for a digital broadcasting system suchas a “pay broadcasting recoding reproduction method” (Japanese PatentNo. 2983504). FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows a conventional contentusage management system configuration. The content usage managementsystem includes a wide area network 1, a broadcast (communication)satellite 2, a user terminal A3 such as an STB (Set Top Box), a userterminal B5, an IC card A7, an IC card B9, a server 11, a TV 130 and aTV 150. In the figure, the wide area network 1 shall include a broadcastcommunication network such as a satellite TV broadcasting(communication). Conventionally, the user terminal A3 is equipped withthe IC card A7, the user terminal B5 is equipped with the IC card B9 asshown in the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1. The user terminalA3 and B5, which have a communication function, receive a content from10 the server 11 via the broadcast (communication) satellite 2 and storethe received content inside. On the other hand, the user terminal A3 andB5 each obtains a content usage rule via the wide area network 1 such asa dial line network and each user terminal conducts a copyrightmanagement in each IC card. The TV 130 connected to the user terminal A3and the TV 150 connected to the user terminal B5 are available for itsutilization by each IC card.

[0006] However, with the above conventional method, the portable servicefor the IC card is not effectively used because of a lack of conveniencefor inserting/pulling of the IC card and a lack of the portability. As aresult, the IC card is used under a condition of always-inserted intothe content user terminal, thus the portable service is not realizedwith the above method.

[0007] Also, when a contractor of the IC card and a content user aredifferent, for example, a “family plan use” contract, it is possible touse a content whoever operates the user terminal despite of thecontractor's intent with the IC card inserted. Thus, it is difficult forthe contractor to give a permission to utilize a content only to a userwho is permitted by the contractor.

[0008] On the other hand, when one content user terminal is used by aplurality of contractors, each contractor needs to use the content userterminal by turns after inserting the IC card. As a result, when thecontent user terminal is used for a parallel processing for contentsutilization, the processing should be operated by turns as is the samecase with the above, accordingly, a problem, which a number ofcontractors can not use the same content user terminal at the same time,will occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide acontent usage rule management system which is a system to give autilization permission by contractors while securing the portability ofthe content usage rule without reducing its convenience, and to use acontent user terminal by a plurality of contractors in parallel.

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, the content usage rulemanagement system according to the present invention comprises a userterminal that provides a content utilization for users and a contentusage rule management device that stores a content usage rule forpermitting a content utilization with the user terminal and manages thecontent utilization. And the above mentioned user terminal includes autilization unit having a playback device and a user interface forproviding a desired content utilization to users and an inquiry unitoperable to inquire a content utilization availability of theutilization unit to the content usage rule management device via awireless communication and obtain a content utilization permission data,which is a result of the inquiry, from the content usage rule managementdevice via a wireless communication. And the above mentioned utilizationunit provides the content utilization based on the obtained contentutilization permission data, and above mentioned content usage rulemanagement device, which is a portable device includes a copyright datastorage management unit that stores and manages the content usage rulean inquiry result receiving unit that receives an inquiry result of acontent utilization availability from the user terminal via a wirelesscommunication, a copyright data processing unit operable to judge anavailability for the content in the user terminal and creates a contentutilization permission data based on a judge result and a permissionunit operable to send the created content utilization permission data tothe user terminal via a wireless communication.

[0011] As a result, according to the content usage rule managementsystem of the present invention, it is unnecessary to mount a copyrightmanagement function to a user terminal. The content usage managementdevice can manage the content usage rule in the user terminal withsecuring the content usage rule portability by communicating with theuser terminal via a wireless communication.

[0012] Also, the above mentioned user terminal in the content usage rulemanagement system according to the present invention includes, aplurality of the utilization units that provides a content utilizationto a plurality of users in parallel. And the above inquiry unit inquiresthe content utilization availability to a plurality of the content usagerule management devices and obtains a plurality of the contentutilization permission data, and the above each utilization unitprovides the content utilization in parallel based on the plurality ofthe content utilization permission data received from the plurality ofthe content usage rule management devices.

[0013] As a result, according to the content usage rule managementsystem of the present invention, one content user terminal can be usedby a plurality of contractors in parallel.

[0014] Also, the above content usage rule management system in thecontent usage rule management system according to the present inventionfurther includes a user interface unit that notifies to a contractor ofthe content usage rule management device that a content is availableupon receipt of the content usage rule from the user terminal.

[0015] As a result, according to the content usage rule managementsystem of the present invention, there is an advantage that it ispossible to obtain a contractor's permission although a content user anda contractor of the content usage rule management device are differentperson.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other objects, advantages and features of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description thereof taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specificembodiment of the invention. In the Drawings:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows a conventional content utilizationmanagement system configuration.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram that shows a content usage rulemanagement system configuration according to the first embodiment.

[0019]FIG. 3A is a diagram that shows a data flow in the content usagerule management system when the system is configured as the portablecontent usage rule management device A as shown in FIG. 2.

[0020]FIG. 3B is a diagram that shows a data flow in the content usagerule management system 100 when the data transmission function isconfigured in the portable content usage rule management device A withthe server.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a flow chart that shows a processing procedure forobtaining and storing a content and a usage rule in the content userterminal A as shown in FIG. 2.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a flow chart that shows a processing procedure forobtaining and storing a usage rule in the portable content usage rulemanagement device A shown in FIG. 2.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of a communication among a contentuser terminal A, a portable content usage rule management device A and aserver upon receipt of a content view request.

[0024]FIG. 7 is a flow chart that shows a processing procedure of thecontent user terminal A upon receipt of a content utilization request.

[0025]FIG. 8 is a flow chart that shows a processing procedure of theportable content usage rule management device A upon receipt of thecontent utilize request.

[0026]FIG. 9 is a flow chart that shows processing procedure of thecontent user terminal A upon receipt of a content purchase.

[0027]FIG. 10 is a block diagram that shows a detailed overallconfiguration of the content usage rule management system as shown inFIG. 3B.

[0028]FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of a communication among a contentuser terminal A, portable content usage rule management device A and B.and a server upon receipt of content view request.

[0029]FIG. 12 is a flow chart that shows an operation of the portablecontent usage rule management device A when a parental control isconducted for the content utilization.

[0030]FIG. 13A is a diagram that shows an example of a group registerdata 1300 when a family is registered in a group.

[0031]FIG. 13B is a diagram that shows an example of a parental controldata which contains a family data registered in the group exceptparents.

[0032]FIG. 13C is a diagram that shows an example of embodiment for usewhen the content utilization is under parental control.

[0033]FIG. 14 is a diagram that shows a data flow in the content usagerule management system when the utilization unit in the content userterminal A1 has an IC card driver.

[0034]FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram for a communication among a contentuser terminal A, a portable usage rule management device A and B.

[0035]FIG. 16 a diagram that shows an example of a data format for theusage rule.

[0036]FIG. 17 is a diagram that shows an example of a data format of acontent key descriptor for the usage rule of FIG. 16.

[0037]FIG. 18 is a diagram that shows an example of a data format of thepreview key descriptor for the usage rule of FIG. 16.

[0038]FIG. 19 is a diagram that shows an example of a data format of aright data descriptor for the usage rule shown in FIG. 16. Fig.

[0039]FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram for a communication among thecontent user terminal A, the portable content usage rule managementdevice A, B and the server when requesting a backup/restore for theusage rule.

[0040]FIG. 21 is a diagram that shows an example of a data format forcommunication data between the content user terminal and the portablecontent usage rule management device.

[0041]FIG. 22 is a block diagram that shows a configuration of aportable content usage rule management device A which has a timemanagement unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0042] (The First Embodiment)

[0043]FIG. 2 is a block diagram that shows a configuration of a contentusage rule management system according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. The content usage rule management system 100 is asystem which the portable device such as a portable phone device holds acontent usage rule, called a “license ticket” that is able to give acontent utilization to the user terminal, and includes a server 11, acontent user terminal A13, a content user terminal B15, a portablecontent usage rule management device A17 and a wide area network 1. Theserver 11 conducts a central control of a content utilization rightpurchased by a user, and provides the content and the content usage ruleto each content user terminal in response to a content utilizationrequest and a purchase request from each content user terminal. In otherwords, the server 11 provides the content requested from a content userterminal A13 and a content user terminal B15 via the wide area network 1to the content user terminal A13 and the content user terminal B15, andprovides the content usage rule (the license ticket) for the requestedutilization (or the purchased right) to the content user terminal A13and the content user terminal B15 in response to the content utilizationrequest and the purchase request from the content user terminal A13 andthe content user terminal B15. The content usage rule management systemis realized as a server 1 which corresponds to a BS/CS digital broadcaststation, realized as a server device controlled by an Internet broadcaststation and a copyright data management organization, a content userterminal A13 and a content user terminal B15 which correspond to areceiver, for example an STB, realized as a terminal device that isinstalled in home personal computers and convenience stores, andrealized as a portable content usage rule management device whichcorresponds to a portable phone, a PHS and a PDA. The content userterminal A13 and the content user terminal B15 are connected to theportable content usage rule management device A17 with a wirelessinterface such as a Bluetooth (TM).

[0044] In addition, providing of a content usage rule is defined as forproviding a condition which includes a utilization conditional data anda variety of necessary information for utilizing the content when a user(the most typical user is an original author and a content holder), whohas a provide right, provides a content.

[0045] The content user terminal A13 is a terminal device for a user toutilize a content and has a transmission unit 131, a storage unit 133, autilization unit 135 and an interface unit 137. The content userterminal B15 has the same configuration with the content user terminalA13. The transmission unit 131 transmits a purchase request, a recordnotice, a content and a content usage rule to the server 11 via the widearea network 1. The storage unit 133 is a hard disk or an IC card thatsupplies a memory area for storing a content received from the server 11and a content utilization permission data received from the portablecontent usage rule management device A17. The utilization unit 135 is auser interface that conducts an input and output operation with a TV, aprinter, a speaker, a controller and a remote controller for utilizing acontent. The utilization unit 135 decodes an encryption of the contentstored in the storage unit 133 using a content key in the contentutilization permission data and provides a content utilization (includesa reproduction, a printout and/or a moving) in an amount of times thatthe permission is given from the content utilization permission data.The interface unit 137 includes a wireless interface that is forconfirming the content utilization permission with the portable contentusage rule management device A17.

[0046] The content user terminal A13 and the content user terminal B15are user terminals that can utilize contents only after receiving apermission result, which is given based on the usage rule in theportable content usage rule management device A17, via the wirelesscommunication with the portable content usage rule management device A17(details are described later referring to a sequence diagram of FIG. 10and a data format diagram of FIG. 19).

[0047] In addition, the content user terminal A13 and the content userterminal B15 actually should have other functions such as anauthentication function for conducting a device authentication and apersonal authentication, a tamper tolerance function for operating eachfunction safely, and a variety of configuration elements for realizing apower control function, however, those are not thrust of the presentinvention, thus the explanation is omitted. The portable content usagerule management device A17 is a portable device that manages the contentutilization in the content user terminal based on the content usage rulestored inside the device, and includes a copyright data storagemanagement unit 173, a copyright data processing unit 175, an interfaceunit 177 and a user interface unit 179. The copyright data storagemanagement unit 173 is a memory that supplies a memory part for storingand managing a content usage rule, a content title data and a copyrightrelated data which includes an author data, a publisher data andthereof. The copyright data processing unit 175 conducts a contentutilization management processing for the content user terminal A13 andthe content user terminal B15 based on the content usage rule stored inthe copyright data storage management unit 173. More specifically, thiscontent utilization management is conducted using the contentutilization permission data which indicates the content utilizationavailability. When the content utilization permission data indicatesthat the content utilization is permitted, a content key and a number(or time), that how many times the content can be utilized, aredescribed. On the other hand, when the content utilization is notpermitted, only data indicating that “the content utilization is notpermitted” is described. The interface unit 177 is a wirelesscommunication unit that receives the content usage rule and autilization request from the content user terminal A13 and the contentuser terminal B15, and sends the content utilization permission data tothe content user terminal A13 and the content user terminal B15. Whenthe content user terminal A13 or the content user terminal B15 requestsfor a utilization request for the content usage rule stored in thecopyright data storage management unit 173, the user interface unit 179issues a notice of a utilization request received from the content userterminal A13 or the content user terminal B15 to the stored usage rulecontractors, and confirms the content utilization permission with thecontent user terminal A13 and the content user terminal B15.

[0048] In addition, the portable content usage rule management deviceA17 actually should have other functions such as an application servicefunction, an authentication function for conducting a deviceauthentication and a personal authentication, a tamper tolerancefunction for operating each function'safely, and a variety ofconfiguration elements for realizing a power control function, however,those are not thrust of the present invention, thus the explanationis-omitted.

[0049]FIG. 3A is a diagram that shows a data flow in the content usagerule management system when the portable content usage rule managementdevice A17 configured as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3B is a diagram thatshows a data flow in the content usage rule management system 100 whenthe data transmission function is configured in the portable contentusage rule management device A17 with the server 11. As shown in FIG.3A, the portable content usage rule management device A17 does notreceive the usage rule directly from the server 11 but receives theusage rule from each content user terminal via the content user terminalA13 or the content user terminal B15. Following is detailed explanationof each operation in the content usage rule management system 100referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 when the case that the portablecontent usage rule management device A17 is configured as FIG. 2 and,FIG. 3A, and a content user and a contractor are the same person.

[0050] There are two ways for utilizing contents. One of them is to{circumflex over (1)} utilize a content by consuming the purchased usagerule, purchasing a usage rule every time or purchasing some usage rulesfor future use previously. And the other is to {circumflex over (2)}utilize a content by consuming the usage rule which is not yetpurchased. To be more precisely, the server 11 provides an encryptedusage rule, which can be consumed only in devices that configure thecontent usage management system 100, with contents beforehand in acontent distribution using a broadcast (i.e. viewing a chargedbroadcast). And the amount for utilizing the contents is calculated andis charged automatically every time users or contractors use thecontents. The calculation for the amount that the contents are used isconducted with the purchase record notice. The purchase record notice isa data that notifies to the server 11 that which content has beenutilized indeed for how much within its contracted utilization. Theserver 11 calculates the content charge in accordance with the purchaserecord notice received from the content user terminal or the portablecontent usage rule management device and conducts an accountingprocessing. In addition, this purchase record notice is not necessarilysent to the server 11 every time in its utilization. For example, thepurchase record notice may well be stored in the content user terminalor the portable content usage rule management device in certain amountof periods, and after that, it is periodically sent to the server 11.Following is an explanation for the above-mentioned two ways {circumflexover (1)}, {circumflex over (2)} of the content utilization.

[0051]FIG. 4 is a flow chart that shows a processing procedure forobtaining and storing the content and the content usage rule in thecontent user terminal A13 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a flow chart thatshows a processing procedure for obtaining and storing the usage rule inthe portable content usage rule management device A17 of FIG. 2. FIG. 6is a sequence diagram of a communication among the content user terminalA13, the portable content usage rule management device A17 and theserver 11 when the content view is requested.

[0052] (1) The server 11 provides a requested content ({circumflex over(2)}and an encrypted usage rule) based on a broadcast schedule or a userrequest to one or more content user terminal such as the content userterminal A13 and the content user terminal B15 (S601 in FIG. 6)

[0053] (2) The content user terminal A13 stores and manages a content({circumflex over (2)}and an encrypted usage rule) in the storage unit133 upon receipt of the content from the transmission unit 131 (S401,S402 in FIG. 4).

[0054] (3) When users want to view contents stored in the content userterminal A13, log in from the content user terminal A13 and input a viewrequest to the content user terminal A13 by selecting a content from alist of contents displayed in the TV 130 by the utilization unit 135(S602 in FIG. 6). The content user terminal A13 sends contentsutilization requests to the peripheral portable content usage rulemanagement devices A and B by using a wireless communication of theinterface unit 137 (S603, S604 in FIG. 6). The portable content usagerule management devices A and B that received a utilization request fromthe content user terminal A13 checks whether the copyright data storagemanagement unit 173 or the storage unit 133 have a requested usage ruleor not. When the copyright data storage management unit 173 has it, itfurther checks whether the user, who sent the utilization request fromthe content user terminal A13, is permitted for utilizing its usage rulefrom the contractor of the portable content usage rule management deviceA and B. {circumflex over (1)}When the usage rule requested by theutilization request is not in the copyright data storage management unit173, the portable content usage rule management devices A and B send thepurchase request. {circumflex over (2)}When the requested usage rule isin the storage unit 133 but it remains encrypted, the portable contentusage rule management devices A and B send a purchase record notice as autilization permission data that indicates the usage rule is unpurchasedto the content user terminal A13 (S605, S606 in FIG. 6). Also, when therequested usage rule is in the storage unit 133 or the copyright datastorage management unit 173 but not permitted for using its usage ruleby the contractor, a notice for utilization “not permitted” as autilization permission data is sent to the content user terminal A13.The content user terminal A13 that received an utilization permissiondata for an unpurchase from the portable content usage rule managementdevices A and B sends {circumflex over (1)} a purchase request for theusage rule or a providing request or {circumflex over (2)} purchaserecord notice for the usage rule to the server 11 (S607 in FIG. 6). Theserver 11 provides {circumflex over (1)}the requested usage rule to thecontent user terminal A13 via the network 1 based on {circumflex over(1)}the purchase request, a usage rule providing request or {circumflexover (2)} a purchase record notice from the content user terminal A13(S608,in FIG. 6). When the case of {circumflex over (2)}, after theserver 11 received a purchase record notice, the server 11 conducts anaccounting processing based on the received purchase record notice. Andwhen the case of {circumflex over (2)}, the server 11 does not conduct ausage rule sending processing.

[0055] (4) When the content user terminal A13 {circumflex over(1)}receives a content usage rule with the transmission unit 131, theinterface unit 137 transfers {circumflex over (1)} the purchased or{circumflex over (2)} an encrypted usage rule to a portable contentusage rule management device A17 designated by a contractor who is auser conducted a purchase proceeding or a provide request of the usagerule (S401, S403 in FIG. 4 and S609 in FIG. 6). In addition, thisportable content usage rule management device A17 is mounted a copyrightmanagement function.

[0056] (5) When the portable content usage rule management device A17receives the purchased usage rule from the interface unit 177, ittransfers the usage rule to the copyright data storage management unit173, and the copyright data storage management unit 173 stores the usagerule (S501, S502 in FIG. 5).

[0057] (6) At this time, when the copyright data storage management unit173 has a setting for notifying the contractors that the usage rule hasbeen received and stored in the portable content usage rule managementdevice A17, it is able to notify the contractor of the usage rule (thecontent data and the usage rule data may well be included) which hasbeen obtained by sending data indicating the usage rule is stored in theuser interface unit 179 (S503, S504 in FIG. 5).

[0058] (7) The portable content usage rule management device A17 checkswhether the content user terminal A13 is in a status of requesting autilization or not. And when it is in a requesting status, the copyrightdata processing unit 175 judges whether the user is authorized or notfor utilizing the content, after confirming that the usage rule storedin the copyright data storage management unit 173 remains valid andnotifies whether the utilization is permitted or not, to the contentuser terminal A13 via the interface unit 177 (S505, S506 in FIG. 5, S610in FIG. 6). When the content user terminal A13 is not in a status ofrequesting an utilization, the following processing will be taken.

[0059] (8) When there is a request for the service to end, the portablecontent usage rule management device A17 ends the service. However whenthere is no such request, it continues the processing of a receive wait(S507 in FIG. 5).

[0060] (9) When there is a service end request, the content userterminal A13 ends the service however, when there is no such request, itcontinues the processing of a receive wait (S404 in FIG. 4).

[0061] In accordance with the usage rule obtained as above, theprocessing for utilizing contents (playback or printout of the content)are to be explained with reference to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. Amongthe processing below, the processing (1) and (2) are the same with thecase of obtaining and storing a content and a usage rule. FIG. 7 is aflow chart that shows a processing procedure for the content userterminal A13 when a content usage is requested. FIG. 8 is a flow chartthat shows a processing procedure for the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 when a content usage is requested.

[0062] (1) The content user conducts a content view request from theinput operable TV 130 or from the remote controller to control the TV130 and the content user terminal A13 to the utilization unit 135 in thecontent user terminal, using the content user terminal A13 (S602 in FIG.6).

[0063] (2) When the content user terminal A13 receives the content viewrequest, it issues a utilization request from the usage unit 135 to thestorage unit 133 (S701, S702 in FIG. 7).

[0064] (3) The storage unit 133 in the content user terminal A13 checkswhether a right which corresponding to the received user request(utilization permission data) is already stored in the storage unit 133or not, and when the data is already stored, it responds to the usageunit 135 for utilizing the data, and the content view is thus possible.On the other hand, when it is not stored inside the storage unit 133,the storage unit 133 issues the utilizing request to the interface unit137 (S703 in FIG. 7).

[0065] (4) When the interface unit 137 in the content user terminal A13obtains the utilizing request, it sends the utilization request forplaying back the content to the portable content usage rule managementdevice (S704 in FIG. 7, S604 in FIG. 6).

[0066] (5) When the interface unit 177 receives the utilization requestfor playing back the content, the portable content usage rule managementdevice A17 transfers it to the copyright data processing unit 175 (S801,S802 in FIG. 8).

[0067] (6) When the copyright data processing unit 175 in the portablecontent usage rule management device A17 accepts the utilizationrequest, it confirms whether the usage rule is stored or not in thecopyright data storage management unit 173 based on the data whichspecifies the content, the user data (a user ID and a password, etcwhich are input at the time of login) and the content ID, etc. (S803 inFIG. 8).

[0068] (7) When the usage rule request is stored in the copyright datastorage management unit 173, it checks whether the stored usage rule ispurchased or not, and when the usage rule is already purchased, thecopyright data processing unit 175 in the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 sends the utilization permission data is sent tothe interface unit 137 in the content user terminal A13 via theinterface unit 177 (S804, S805 in FIG. 8).

[0069] On the other hand, when the usage rule is not stored, thecopyright data processing unit 175 sends {circumflex over (1)}thepurchased request or {circumflex over (2)}the purchase record notice tothe interface unit 137 in the content user terminal A13 via theinterface unit 177. And when the case of {circumflex over (2)}, thecopyright data processing unit 175 sends the purchase record notice,after that, sends a utilization permission data to the content userterminal A13 (S806 in FIG. 8, S606 in FIG. 6).

[0070] (8) When the interface unit 137 in the content user terminal A13receives the utilization permission data, and the utilization ispermitted, it responds to the utilization unit 135 with the storedcorresponding content via the storage unit 133 (S705, S706, S707, S708in FIG. 7).

[0071] On the other hand, when the interface unit 137 does not receivethe utilization permission data including the utilization permission,the interface unit 137 notifies the usage unit 135 via the storage unit133 that the view is not permitted, thus the content will not beplay-backed for the object content (S705, S706, S708, S710 in FIG. 7).

[0072] (9) When the content is encrypted, the usage unit 135 in thecontent user terminal A13 decrypts the content with a content keyincluded in the utilization permission data (S709 in FIG. 7, S611 inFIG. 6).

[0073] (10) The TV 130 connected to the utilization unit 135 conducts aplayback proceeding for the object content and provides the view serviceto users.

[0074] (11) When the service end is requested, the portable contentusage rule management device A17 ends the service. However, when theservice end is not requested, it continues the processing for areceiving wait (S807 in FIG. 8).

[0075] (12) When the service end is requested, the content user terminalA13 ends the service. However, when the service end is not requested, itcontinues the processing for a receive wait (S711 in FIG. 7).

[0076] Following is a processing for purchasing an unpurchased contentby a utilization request from the content user terminal A13 accompaniedby the view request from users with referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG.9. FIG. 9 is a flow chart that shows a processing procedure for thecontent user terminal A13 when purchasing the content. In addition, theunpurchsed content is a content that simply obtained the content, thatis, not obtained the usage rule for utilization. The purchase processingis generally conducted later.

[0077] (1) When the requested usage rule is not stored inside thecopyright data storage management unit 173 in the portable content usagerule management device A17, the purchase request purchase is sent viathe interface unit 177 as a purchase processing, and the copyright dataprocessing unit 175 sends a purchase request or a purchase record noticeto the interface unit 137 in the content user terminal A13 (S806 in FIG.8, S606 in FIG. 6).

[0078] (2) When the content user terminal A13 receives the purchaserequest in the interface unit 137, the received purchase request is sentto the transmission unit 131 (S901, S902 in FIG. 9).

[0079] (3) The transmission unit 131 in the content user terminal A13sends the received purchase request to the server 11 via the network 1(S903 in FIG. 9, S607 in FIG. 6).

[0080] (4) When the server 11 receives the purchase request, therequested usage rule is sent to the content user terminal A13 (S608 inFIG. 6).

[0081] (5) When the service end request is sent, the content userterminal A13 ends the service, and when there is no such request,continues the processing for a receive wait (S904 in FIG. 9).

[0082] In addition, in the above (1)˜(5), the explanation is made to thecontent purchasing, which accompanied by the utilization request,however, when a user sends the purchase request toward the server 11with the content user terminal A13 for setting out to purchase thecontent usage rule from the first time, the content usage rulemanagement system 100 conducts a processing of the steps S607˜S609 inFIG. 6. Also, when a user conducts a purchase request from the portablecontent usage rule management device A17, the purchase request from theuser is sent from the portable content usage rule management device A17to the content user terminal A13, after that, the purchase request issent form the content user terminal to the server 11 (S607 in FIG. 6).The processing, from now on is as the same with the case for the contentuser terminal for sending a purchase request (S608, S609 in FIG. 6).Next, when the usage rule, received with the content providing, isencoded for the unpurchased reason, following is an explanation of aprocessing for purchasing a content with a utilization request from thecontent user terminal A13 accompanied by a view request from a userreferring to FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9.

[0083] (1) When the requested usage rule, which is already purchased, isnot stored in the copyright data storage management unit 173 in theportable content usage rule management device A17, however theunpurchased usage rule, which remains encrypted, is stored, that is,when the encrypted usage rule is provided accompanied by the providingof the content, the copyright data, processing unit 175 sends a purchaserecord notice as a utilization permission data that the usage rule isnot purchased yet, to the interface unit 137 in the content userterminal A13 via the interface unit 173 (S806 in FIG. 8, S606 in FIG.6).

[0084] (2) When the content user terminal A13 receives a purchase recordnotice in the interface unit 137, sends it to the transmission unit 131(S901, S902 in FIG. 9).

[0085] (3) The transmission unit 131 in the content user terminal A13sends a requested purchase record notice to the server 11 via thenetwork 1 (S903 in FIG. 9, S607 in FIG. 6).

[0086] (4) When the service end is requested, the content user terminalA13 ends the service, however when there is no such request, the contentuser terminal A13 continues a processing of a receive wait (S904 in FIG.9).

[0087] (The Second Embodiment)

[0088]FIG. 10 is a block diagram that shows a more detailed over allstructure of the content usage rule management system 1000 shown in FIG.3B. The content usage rule management system 1000 does not have a datatransmission function for a content user terminal to transmit the datato a server, but alternatively, it has a portable content usage rulemanagement device that establishes a bidirectional communication withthe server and has a content user terminal A1013, a content userterminal B1015, a portable content usage rule management device A1017, aserver 11 and a wide area network 1. In the figure, since the sameconfiguration elements with the content usage rule management system 100according to the first embodiment are put the same reference number,thus, the explanation for those each elements are omitted. In addition,the content user terminal B1015 has the same configuration with thecontent user terminal A1013.

[0089] The content user terminal A1013 is a terminal device that doesnot establish a bidirectional communication with the server but obtainsa usage rule via only the portable content usage rule management device,and includes a storage unit 133, a utilization unit 135, a transmissionunit 1131 and an interface unit 1137. The transmission unit 1131 isgenerally be included as a function unit when the content user terminalA1013 is an STB, and does not have a sending function but has areceiving function for receiving a content from an airwave. Theinterface unit 1137 transmits a utilization request, a purchase request,a utilization permission data and a usage rule, etc to the interfaceunit 1177 in the portable content usage rule management device A1017.

[0090] The portable content usage rule management device A1017, that isequipped with a copyright management function, is a portable device toestablish a bidirectional communication with the server 11 and has acopyright data storage management unit 1173, a user interface unit 179,a transmission unit 1171, a copyright data processing unit 1175 and aninterface unit 1177. The transmission unit 1171, is generally includedwhen the potable content usage rule management device A1017 is aportable phone device, communicates with the server 11 via the wide areanetwork 1 for receiving a usage rule that is provided by the server 11from the portable phone line network. The copyright data storagemanagement unit 1173 stores and manages the usage rule received by thetransmission unit 1171. When the usage rule for the utilization requestreceived by the interface unit 1177 is not stored in the copyright datastorage management unit 1173, the copyright data processing unit 1175sends a purchase request or a notice of a purchase record to thetransmission unit 1171 via the copyright data storage unit 1173. Theinterface unit 1177 receives a utilization request from the interfaceunit 1137 in the content user terminal A1013 and. sends a utilizationpermission data of the requested content for the received utilizationrequest to the interface unit 1137.

[0091] Following is a detailed explanation for the operation of thecontent usage rule management system 1000 as composed above, referringto FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagramfor the communication among the content user terminal A1013, theportable content usage rule management device A, B and the server 11when the content view request is made. In the Figure, a content isalready stored in the storage unit 133 and the utilization permissiondata, for the content to be viewed when the view request is made, shallnot be stored in the storage unit 133 in the content user terminalA1013.

[0092] (1) When the usage rule, requested with the utilization request,is not stored in the storage unit 133, the content user terminal A1013sends a content utilization request to the portable content usage rulemanagement device A and B using a wireless communication function of theinterface unit 1137 (S1101, S1102 in FIG. 11).

[0093] (2) The portable content usage rule management device A and B,received the utilization request from the content user terminal A1013,checks whether the usage rule for the utilization request is stored inthe copyright data storage management unit 1173 or not. When the usagerule is stored, a user, who logged in from the content user terminalA1013, checks whether the utilization for the usage rule is permitted ornot by each contractor of the portable content usage rule managementdevice A and B based on a contracting related data, that is pre-createdby the contractor of the portable content usage rule management device Aand B such as a set data in which the usage rule is shared within afamily or not. When the utilization for the usage rule is not permitted,a notice for “not-permitted” is sent as a utilization permission data tothe content user terminal A1013 (S1104 in FIG. 11). Also, when thecontent utilization request based on the usage rule is permitted by thecontractor of the portable content usage rule management device A, theutilization permission data including a key for decoding an encrypted ofthe content is sent to the content user terminal A1013.

[0094] (3) When the usage rule is not stored in the copyright datastorage management unit 1173, the portable usage rule management devicesA and B check a utilization permission of the contractor based on thecontractor related data. When the contractor is permitted for itsutilization, the copyright data processing unit 1175 sends {circumflexover (1)}purchase request or {circumflex over (2)}a purchase recordnotice to the server 11 via the copyright data storage management unit1173 and the transmission unit 1171 (51105 in FIG. 11). When only thecase of {circumflex over (1)}, the server 11 provides the requestedusage rule based on the purchase request or the purchase record noticeof the portable content usage rule management device A via the broadnetwork 1 (S1106 in FIG. 11). When the case of {circumflex over (2)},the portable content usage rule management device A1017 does not proceedthe S1106 but conducts the S1107.

[0095] (4) {circumflex over (1)} When the portable content usage rulemanagement device A1017 receives the usage rule with the transmissionunit 1171, stores the usage rule to the copyright data storagemanagement unit 1173. In this bout, when the notice, for which to notifythat the usage rule is received/stored in the portable content usagerule management device A1017 to the contractor, is setup, the copyrightdata storage management unit 1173 is able to notify to the contractorfor the usage rule (the content data and the usage rule data may well beincluded) for its obtainment. {circumflex over (1)}{circumflex over(2)}The copyright data processing unit 1175 obtains a utilizationpermission data for the utilization permission including a key and sendsit to the content user terminal A1013 via the interface unit 1177 (51107in FIG. 11).

[0096] (5) The utilization unit 135 in the content user terminal A1013obtains the utilization permission data from the portable content usagerule management device A via the interface unit 1137 and the storageunit 133, and decodes the encrypted content. As a result, the user isable to view the requested content (S1108 in FIG. 11).

[0097] Following is an explanation for the content utilization such as aplayback in the content usage rule management system 1000 when thecontent user and the contractor is different person, that is, forexample, when a parental control is conducted, referring to FIG. 6, FIG.7, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a flow chart that shows an operationof the portable content usage rule management device A when conducting aparental control at the time of the content utilization.

[0098] (1) A content user (i.e. children) inputs a content view requestfrom the TV 130, which is possible to input to the utilization unit 135in the content user terminal A1013 or from a remote controller which isto control the content user terminal A1013 the TV 130 (S602 in FIG. 6,S1101 in FIG. 11).

[0099] (2) When the content user terminal A1013 receives a content viewrequest, sends a utilization request from the user terminal 135 and thestorage unit 133 (S701, S702 in FIG. 7, S1103 in FIG. 11).

[0100] (3) When the storage unit 133 in the content user terminal A1013has already stored the accepted right which corresponds to the acceptedutilization request, replies the utilization data as it is to the userterminal 135, accordingly the user is able to view the content. On theother hand, when the right is not stored in the storage unit 133, thestorage unit 133 issues a utilization request to the interface unit 1137(S703 in FIG. 7).

[0101] (4) When the interface unit 1137 in the content user terminalA1013 accepts a utilization request, sends a content playbackutilization request to the portable content usage rule management deviceA1017 which is a portable device that a contractor, who holds theobtained usage rule (i.e. a parent), takes along (S704 in FIG. 7, S607in FIG. 6).

[0102] (5) When the portable content usage rule management device A1017receives a content playback utilization request in the interface unit1177, sends a utilization request to the copyright data processing unit1175 (S1201, S1202 in FIG. 12).

[0103] (6) When the copyright data processing unit 1175 in the portablecontent usage rule management device A1017 accepts a usage rule, checksa usage rule storage to the copyright data storage management unit 1173based on a-user data or a data that specify a content such as a contentID (S1203 in FIG. 12).

[0104] (7) When a content, which is a utilization object, is a parentalcontrol object content that has a view limitation by the pre-createdcontractor related data, the copyright data processing unit 1175 in theportable content usage rule management device A1017 restricts thecontent utilization based on the content user level (age) which thecontractor preset. More specifically, the copyright data processing unit1175 conducts a confirmation (parental control) of the utilizationpermission to the contractor (S1204, S1205 in FIG. 12). When thecontractor sends a permission for a utilization via the user interfaceunit 179 (S1206 in FIG. 12), and the requested purchased usage rule isstored in the copyright data storage management unit 1173 (S1207 in FIG.12), the utilization permission is sent to the content user terminalA1013 via the interface unit 1177 (S1208 in FIG. 12).

[0105] On the other hand, when the contractor does not permit (S1206 inFIG. 12), a “utilization not permitted” notice is sent to the contentuser terminal A1013 via the copyright data storage management unit 1173,copyright data processing unit 1175 and the interface unit 1177 (S1209in FIG. 12).

[0106] Also, when there is a case that although the utilizationpermission is given by the contractor (S1206 in FIG. 12), but{circumflex over (1)}the purchased usage rule has not stored yet or acase that when {circumflex over (2)}the usage rule is stored but it isencrypted, the copyright data processing unit 1173 sends {circumflexover (1)}a purchase request or {circumflex over (2)}a purchase recordnotice to the server 11 (S1105 in FIG. 11, S1210 in FIG. 12). The server11 sends the requested usage rule to the portable content usage rulemanagement device A1017 (S1106 in FIG. 11).

[0107] (8) The transmission unit 1171 in the portable content usage rulemanagement device A1017 stores {circumflex over (1)}the received usagerule to the copyright data storage management unit 1173 and sends theutilization permission data including a content key to the content userterminal A1013 {circumflex over (1)}{circumflex over (2)}via theinterface unit 1177 (S1107 in FIG. 11). The interface unit 1137 in thecontent user terminal A1013 receives the utilization permission datafrom the portable content usage rule management device A1017. When theutilization is permitted, the interface unit 1137 sends it to theutilization unit 135 with the corresponding stored content (S705, S706,S707, S708 in FIG. 7).

[0108] On the other hand, when the interface unit 1137 does not receivethe utilization permission data including the utilization permission, orreceives a utilization permission data which is a notice of a “notpermitted” data, the interface unit 1137 replies to the utilization unit135 via the storage unit 133 that the view is not permitted, accordinglythe object content is not play-backed (S705, S706, S708, S710 in FIG. 7,S1104 in FIG. 11). In this case, the processing is restarted from theS1211 in FIG. 12).

[0109] (9) When a content is encrypted, the utilization unit 135 in thecontent user terminal A1013 decrypts the content using a content keyincluded in the utilization permission data (S709 in FIG. 7).

[0110] (10) The content user terminal A1013 conducts a object contentplayback processing by the TV130 connected to the utilization unit 135and provides the content view service to users (S1108 in FIG. 11).

[0111] (11) When there is a request for service end, the portablecontent usage rule management device A1017 ends the service however,when there is no such request, it continues the processing of a receivewait (S1211 in FIG. 12).

[0112] (12) When there is a request for service end, the content userterminal A1013 ends the service however, when there is no such request,continues the processing of a receive wait (S711 in FIG. 7).

[0113]FIG. 13 is a diagram that shows an example of a parental controlin the “group shared (family-only)” mode in the content usage rulemanagement system 1000 of FIG. 10. FIG. 13A is a diagram that shows anexample of a group register data 1300 when a family member is registeredin a group. FIG. 13B is a diagram that shows an example of a parentalcontrol data 1300 for a family except parents. FIG. 13C is a diagramthat shows an example of embodiment for use when the content utilizationis being parental controlled.

[0114] When the content usage rule management system 1000 is in a “groupshared (family-only)” mode and in a status that a content user and acontractor of a content user right are different, however, the both areable to utilize the object content when both are belonged to asame-group. Accordingly, when a desired usage rule is not stored in theportable content usage rule management device A1017, a contractor forwhich is a content user (i.e. children) and when a user has an accessright to a usage rule controlled by a contractor portable content usagerule management device B, a user (child) can utilize a usage rule of theother contractor's (parents) portable content usage rule managementdevice B. As a result, it is possible to share a content usage rule witha family when using a home network. Accordingly, when a family memberregistered in one group, children can utilize a content using parent'susage rule.

[0115]FIG. 13A includes a user name 1301, a user ID 1302, an age 1303and a level 1304. In the item of the user name 1301, a user namedescription, that belongs to a same group, for example a name of the“Hami Taro”, is written. In the item of the user ID 1302, the contentusage rule management system 1000, the description of a user ID “HAM01”,which is a specified ID allocated to “Hami Taro”, is written for eachusers. In the item of the age 1303, “36-year-old”, which is an age of“Hami Taro”, is described. And in the item of the level 1304, a pre-setlevel, for example, the level “0” is set corresponding to the age“36-year-old” in the content usage rule management system 1000. Thislevel is automatically set according to user's age. When the level “0”which corresponds to adult users, above 20-year-old, the users are givenany contents they want without any restriction. Further, in a groupregistration data 1300, there are two other users registered “Hami Goro”and “Hami Kichi” besides “Hami Taro”. “Hami Goro” is in level “2” withhis age “17-year-old” specified in the user ID “HAM02”, and “Hami Kichi”is in level “3” with his age “12-year-old” specified in the user ID“HAM03”. This level is allocated to each contents used in the contentusage rule management system 1000. A level for each contents and a userlevel are compared. When the user level is higher than the level foreach contents; the utilization for the content is not permitted, andwhen the user level is lower than the level for each content, theutilization for the content is permitted, for example. As a result, itis avoidable for juvenile to access to inadequate content for juvenile,roughly. In addition, this level can not only be set in system side, butalso be set in each family based on their children growth. Also, it ispossible for each family to reset the level set by the system side basedon their children growth.

[0116] The parental control data 1310 shown in FIG. 13B is pre-createdby parents of each family and the data is showing a content utilizingrestriction for each child for each content utilizing. The parentalcontrol data 1310 describes items of a content ID 1311, a user ID 1312and a restriction 1313. In the item of the content ID 1311, a content IDto specify each contents (i.e. “MV012”) is described. In the item of theuser ID 1312, a children user ID to use contents, which are described inthe content ID 1311, for example, “HAM 03” is described. In the item ofthe restriction 1313, a user ID described in the user ID 1312, forexample, “Hami Kichi” specified in the “HAM 03” and a content IDdescribed in the content ID 1311. For example, a utilization restrictioncontent (i.e. “need confirmation”) is applied when a content, specifiedin “MV012”, is utilized. A content for this usage restriction isindicated in any one of “OK”, “NG” and “need confirmation”. The “OK”means “no restriction”, so it is possible for children to utilize anycontents based on their utilization request. The “NG” means “utilizationnot permitted”, so the children can not access to the content. When the“need confirmation” is indicated, a confirmation for utilizationpermission (a parental control) is conducted to the contractor (parents)via the user interface unit 179. When a specific ID for specific fieldis allocated to contents, that is, for example, when a content ID for anaction movie including a violence scene is set starting with an alphabet“R”, it may well be described the whole content ID 1311 in that fieldwith a wild card “*” such as “R****”.

[0117] The situation such as FIG. 13C is seen in daily lives, that is,while parents are in downstairs, a child is using content in upstairs.In this case, it is difficult to know what kind of content the child isusing. To this situation, the parental control data 1310 of FIG. 13Bwill work very well. When the child upstairs is about to use a contentusing a usage rule stored in the parent's portable content usage rulemanagement device A1017, parents can set the portable content usage rulemanagement device A1017 to ring a buzzer and to display a confirmationscreen to confirm the child's utilization permission. As a result,parents can judge the utilization permission to an inadequate contentuse request however having their child in a different place where theycan't keep an eye on.

[0118] (The Third Embodiment)

[0119] Following is an explanation for the utilization unit 135 in thecontent user terminal A13 of FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment,when the utilization unit 135 has a driver function for an IC card, astorage media 139 as a user interface. FIG. 14 is a diagram that shows adata flow in the content usage rule management system 100 when theutilization unit 135 in the content user terminal A13 of FIG. 2 has anIC card driver. As shown in FIG. 14, by having a reading out and awriting function to a content and a content usage rule of the storagemedia 139 in the utilization unit 135 of the content user terminal A13,the following processing can be taken; {circumflex over (1)} while acontractor who has a portable usage rule management device A17{circumflex over (2)} views the TV 130 connected to the content userterminal A13, {circumflex over (3)} another contractor who has aportable content usage rule management device B19 {circumflex over (4)}can move the content and the content usage rule to the storage media 139connected to the same user terminal A13.

[0120] As a result, with this invention, it is able to carry on autilization request processing from a plurality of contractors at thesame time in the content user terminal A13.

[0121] Following is an explanation of an example for an operation of thecontent usage rule management system 100 when a plurality of contractorsuse one content user terminal A13 using the content usage rulemanagement device A17 and the portable content usage rule managementdevice B19 as conjured as FIGS. 2 and 14.

[0122] First of all, a processing for utilization in parallel isdescribed referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagramfor a communication among a content user terminal A13, a portable usagerule management device A17 and B19, and a server 11, when a plurality ofcontractors use the content user terminal A13 in parallel. In theFigure, the content 1 and the content 2 shall previously be stored inthe storage unit 133 of the content user terminal A13.

[0123] (1) A content user (i.e. a big brother) sends a view request fordesired content (i.e. content 1 for a movie) from an operation unit inthe TV 130 connected to the utilization unit 135 in the content userterminal A13 or from a remote controller to control the TV 130 using thecontent user terminal A13 (S1501 in FIG. 15).

[0124] (2) The utilization request by the content user (the big brother)is confirmed for an availability of the usage rule and a utilization forthe content using the nearby portable content usage rule managementdevice including the content user terminal A13 and the portable contentusage rule management device A17 with a wireless communication (S1503,S1504 in FIG. 15), and specifies the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 which stored a usage rule, and thus a viewavailability is determined (S1507, S1508 in FIG. 15).

[0125] (3) When the content user (the big brother) is utilizing acontent, other content user (i.e. a younger brother) sends a contentmove request for another content (i.e. content 2 for a music) to thestorage medium 139 which is able to output from the utilization unit 135in the content user terminal A13 (S1502 in FIG. 15).

[0126] (4) The utilization request from the content user (the youngerbrother) is confirmed for its availability of the usage rule and autilization for the content using the nearby portable content usage rulemanagement device including the content user terminal A13 and theportable content usage rule management device B19 with a wirelesscommunication (S1505, S1506 in FIG. 15) and specifies the portablecontent usage rule management device B19 which stored a usage rule, andthus a movement for the content 2 is permitted or not is determined(S1510, S1511 in FIG. 15).

[0127] (5) At this time, the utilization request of each content user(the brothers) is made at the same time, however, it is unnecessary foreach content user to switch their IC card, which has a copyrightmanagement function inserted into the content user terminal A13, witheach user as the case of the conventional system configuration shown inFIG. 1. It is possible to use a same user terminal in parallel (viewingfor the content 1 on and after S1509 in FIG. 15, move for the content 2on and after S1512 in FIG. 15).

[0128] Following is an explanation of examples for a judge processingfor a usage rule search, a priority order, and an access right referringto FIG. 6, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, FIG. 18 and FIG. 19.

[0129] (1) The content user terminal A13 sends a utilization request forall portable content usage rule management devices as far as the devicesare in a communicable situation by the interface unit 137 (S603, S604 inFIG. 6).

[0130] (2) The portable content usage rule management device, whichreceived the utilization request from the content user terminal A13 in.the interface unit 177 of FIG. 2, compares the user and contractor inthe copyright processing unit 175 when there are one or more portablecontent usage management devices, such as the case that there are twodevices, the portable content usage rule management device A17 and theportable content usage rule management device B19. More particularly,pre-set the,access right to a usage rule in each purchased contents. Forexample, when it is in a “group-shared (family-only)” mode, although thecontent user and the contractor is different, it is accessible to theobject content unless both are belonged to the same group. Accordingly,when a desired usage rule is not stored in the portable content usagemanagement device A17, the contractor for which is a content user, theother contractor's portable content usage rule management device B19 canbe used unless there is an access right to the usage rule in the othercontractor's portable content usage rule management device B19. As aresult, it is able to share the content usage rule with a family memberin the home network.

[0131] The access way to the usage rule from a plurality of users isdescribed in a part where a variety of rights within the usage rulerelated data is described. FIG. 16 is a diagram that shows an example ofa data format for the usage rule. FIG. 17 is a diagram that shows anexample of a data format of a content key descriptor for the usage ruleof FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a diagram that shows an example of a data formatof the preview key descriptor for the usage rule of FIG. 16. FIG. 19 isa diagram that shows an example of a data format of a right datadescriptor for the usage rule shown in FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 16, theusage rule provided from the server 1 includes a header unit (notencrypted), an encrypted payload and an encrypted trailer unit. In theherder unit, a bibliography data (i.e. a data length, an encrypted type,and an expiration date) is described. In the payload unit, the contentof the usage rule, that is, a data indicating quantitatively in a scopeof right for the usage rule, is described. And in the trailer unit, ahashing value, for detecting a tamper is described.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 16, a content key of FIG. 17, a preview key ofFIG. 18 and a right data of FIG. 19, which are described in a variablelength form, are included in the usage rule in the payload unit. Acontent key for decoding a content encryption is included in a base unitof the content key descriptor. The preview content can be the contentthat pre-created for preview, and the playback content is for previewinga part of the content. In the basic unit of the right data descriptor, adescriptor number for specifying a type of the content utilization, aright permission for indicating a number of utilization permission ofthe specified type, and an access right for indicating a utilizationtype of the usage rule are described. There is a case that the abovedescriptors are included in one usage rule, such as a case that thereare various types of utilization for one content. For example, when amusic content case, there are various types of utilization such as a“playback” to playback music in the content user terminal A13, a “Move”to move the usage rule to a recording medium and a “Print” to print alyric sheet enclosed in a music content. In such a case, the right datadescriptor can be described in each utilization and be included in oneusage rule.

[0133] Whether the usage rule, indicated in the above “group shared(family-only)” mode, is sharable or not is described in the item of theaccess right for the right data descriptor. For example, when “0×00” isdescribed in this access right item, only a contractor can use the usagerule. When “0×01” is described, anybody within a group that members arefamily can use the usage rule. And when “0×FF” is described, anybody canuse this usage rule without any restriction.

[0134] (3) On the other hand, when there is a plurality of usage rulesfor a specific content, the content user terminal A is given a toppriority to use the utilization request in the portable usage rulemanagement device A17 for which the content user is a contractor.

[0135] (4) Further, when a utilizable usage rule is not stored in anyportable content usage rule management devices which are devices that isexisted in a communicable area (i.e. within an area the radio wave canbe reached) for the content user terminal A13, the content user terminalA13 notifies the content users that the requested content can not beutilized with only the usage rule from the utilization unit 135 and, ifnecessary, sends a purchase request or a purchase record notice to theserver 11.

[0136] When a content usage is diminished, the following is anexplanation of an example of a processing of backup and restorereferring to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram for a communicationamong the content user terminal A13, the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17, B19 and the server 11 when requesting abackup/restore for the usage rule. In addition, although not shown inFigures, a portable content usage rule management device A1017,explained in the second embodiment, is also explained.

[0137] (1) A contractor of the portable content usage rule managementdevice A17 sends a backup request to the user interface unit 179 in theportable content usage rule management device (S2001).

[0138] (2) The portable content usage rule management device A17 sendsthe backup request to the server (S2003) via the content user terminalA13 (S2002). The portable content usage rule management device A1017configured as FIG. 10 sends the backup request directly.

[0139] (3) The server 11 receives a backup request of the portablecontent usage rule management device A17, and sends a backup response tothe portable content usage rule management device A17 (S2005) via thecontent user terminal A13 (S2004). The portable content usage rulemanagement device A1017 sends the backup response to the portablecontent usage rule management device A1017 directly.

[0140] (4) The portable content usage rule management device A17 backups(S2007 in FIG. 20) the usage rule in the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 by sending and requesting the usage rule storedinside the portable usage rule management device A17 to the server 11 orthe other portable content usage rule management device B19 via thecontent user terminal A13 (S2006).

[0141] (5) When the portable content usage rule management device A17receives (S2008, S2009) a usage rule confirmation which is forconfirming a backed up usage rule content from the server 11 or theportable content usage rule management device B19, notifies to acontractor of the portable content usage rule management device A17 thatthe backup is completed with a backup response (S2010).

[0142] (6) When the usage rule in the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 is utilized, the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 sends a utilization record to the server 11(S2012) via the content user terminal A13 (S2011). The portable contentusage rule management device A1017 sends the utilization record,directly to the server 11.

[0143] (7) When the portable content usage rule management device A17 isbroken down and the usage rule inside the portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 is diminished, a fixed portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 or new portable content usage rule managementdevice sends a utilization request for a backed up usage rule to theserver or the portable content usage rule management device B19 (S2013,S2014, S2015).

[0144] (8) When the server 11 receives the restore request, it confirmsthe utilization record of the portable content usage rule managementdevice A17, and when the server 11 is to backup, deletes a backup dataand provides the usage rule as a restore response to the portablecontent usage rule management device A17. When the portable contentusage rule management device B19 is the device for backup, it deletesown back up data and provides the backed up usage rule to-the portablecontent usage rule management device A17 (S2016, S2017).

[0145] (9) When the portable content usage rule management device A17receives the usage rule from the server 11 or the portable content usagerule management device A17, it notifies to a contractor of the portablecontent usage rule management device A17 that the restore is completedwith a restore response (S2018).

[0146]FIG. 21 is a diagram that shows an example of a data format forcommunication data between a content user terminal and a portablecontent usage rule management device. As shown in the Figure, thecommunication data between the content user terminal and the portablecontent usage rule management device includes a not encrypted headerunit, an encrypted payload unit and a trailer unit, same with the usagerule. In the header unit, an destination address to indicate adestination for communication data, a source address to indicate asender, a telegraphic ID to indicate a types of communication forcommunication data, and a sequence number to indicate a number whensending a communication data in a packet are described. The destinationaddress and the source address may well be described with a terminal IDor a user ID. And of course, it may well be described with an address.In the payload unit, a content ID for specifying a content and datawhich is a details of the communication data for each telegraphicmessage are described. A usage rule shown in FIG. 16, for example, isinserted into the data for each telegraphic message. In the trailerunit, a CRC for detecting a transmission error for the communicationdata or a tamper are described.

[0147] As explained above referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, it ispossible to utilize contents with one portable content usage rulemanagement device A17 using the TV 130 and the TV 150 connected to aplurality of content user terminals such as the user terminal A13 andthe user terminal B14 by equipping a copyright management function to aportable content usage rule management device. In addition, the FIG. 3Bcase, it is possible for the user terminal A13 and the user terminal B15not to equip a communication function except for the communicationfunction to communicate with the portable content usage rule managementdevice A17 by using the communication function of the portable contentusage rule management device A17, thus it is possible to cutout afunction which conventionally equipped with a user terminal.

[0148] In addition, with the exception of the above embodiment accordingto the present invention explained above, it is possible to do aprocessing of sending a purchase request or purchase record notice tothe server 11 or obtaining a content usage rule from the server 11 usingthe transmission unit 171 in the portable content usage rule managementdevice 17 by having the transmission unit 171 in the portable contentusage rule management device A17 without a transmission function to theserver 11 but only with a receiving function of the transmission unit131 in the content user terminal A13 shown in FIG. 3B.

[0149] This portable content usage rule management device includes alsoa portable phone device, a PHS terminal, a PDA, a wearable computer, anelectronic databook, a high functional watch, and a movable robot, etc.In addition, a portable device will work effectively for applying tothis invention, however it is not necessarily to be the portable device.A desk top type such as a desk top computer will also worked well forthis invention.

[0150] In addition, when the portable content usage rule managementdevice A is configured with a portable device such as a portable phonedevice which has a time clock unit, it is easy to control a time(expiration date) management for a usage rule without adding a unit.FIG. 22 is a block diagram that shows a configuration of a portablecontent usage rule management device A2200 which has a time managementunit 2201. In the figure, the component element which already mentionedabove is put the same reference number thus, the explanation is omitted.In addition, the figure shows a diagram of a portable content, usagerule management device A17 of FIG. 2 configured with the time managementunit 2201. A dashed lines in the figure indicates a configurationelement when the portable content usage rule administration device A17includes the time administration unit 2201. As the FIG. 22, when theportable phone device is the portable content usage rule management unit2200, the time management unit 2201 is included as a portable phonedevice original function inside the unit. The time management unit 2201judges an expiration date, which is, attached to a usage rule and storedin the copyright data storage administration unit 173, that whether theexpiration date is reached or not by comparing with a current time. Whenthe usage rule expired is deleted or invalidated, above judgment, adeletion and an invalidation processing are carried out periodically orin specified time specified by a contractor.

[0151] Also, when the content usage rule management device is realizedwith a portable phone device, an accounting processing for the portablephone device and the content view are carried out in parallel. As aresult, since two accounting processing are put together, it is moreefficient than to manage each accountings separately.

[0152] Furthermore, when a user manages a device which carries aroundsuch as a portable phone, some annoying things such as misplacing theportable phone or stolen the portable phone will happen, unfortunately.As a measure for that case, it is desirable to preset an instruction forthe portable phone device via interface unit that a content usage ruleis not managed with the portable phone device itself.

[0153] In addition, the network 1 is not limited to be realized as thedigital broadcast/GPS satellite network or a broadband network but as ahome LAN or an intranet or a WAN.

[0154] Also, a details and a size of each parameter, which are aconfiguration elements for the descriptor of FIG. 16, FIG. 17, FIG. 18,FIG. 19 and FIG. 21, are just an example that there is no limitation forits details and the size for the invention.

[0155] In addition, there are other providing methods such as a methodfor providing a medium packaged with a content besides the method forproviding the content via the network 1. A content and a content usagerule are corresponded each other with an identifier called “content ID”for specifying a content, however they can be managed separately. InFIG. 2, the explanation is made as one server, but the device forproviding the content and the device for providing the content usagerule may well be a separate device. And the device can be set in eithera neighborhood or a remote place on networks. In addition, as forproviding a content itself, the other providing method is assumed suchas, providing the content by broadcasts on airwave or by multicasts oncommunication. However this is not the thrust of the invention, anexplanation for a contents provider and contents providing method isomitted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A content usage rule management system comprisinga user terminal that provides a content utilization for users and acontent usage rule management device that stores a content usage rulefor permitting a content utilization with the user terminal and managesthe content utilization, wherein the user terminal includes: autilization unit having a playback device and a user interface forproviding a desired content utilization to users; and an inquiry unitoperable to inquire a content utilization availability of theutilization unit to the content usage rule management device via awireless communication and obtain a content utilization permission data,which is a result of the inquiry, from the content usage rule managementdevice via a wireless communication, the utilization unit provides thecontent utilization based on the obtained content utilization permissiondata, and the content usage rule management device, which is a portabledevice includes: a copyright data storage management unit operable tostore and manage the content usage rule; an inquiry result receivingunit operable to receive an inquiry result of a content utilizationavailability from the user terminal via a wireless communication; acopyright data processing unit operable to judge an availability for thecontent in the user terminal and create a content utilization permissiondata based on a judge result; and a permission unit operable to send thecreated content utilization permission data to the user terminal via awireless communication.
 2. The content usage rule management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the user terminal includes a plurality ofthe utilization units that provides a content utilization to a pluralityof users in parallel, the inquiry unit inquires the content utilizationavailability to a plurality of the content usage rule management devicesand obtains a plurality of the content utilization permission data, andthe each utilization unit provides the content utilization in parallelbased on the plurality of the content utilization permission datareceived from the plurality of the content usage rule managementdevices.
 3. The content usage rule management system according to claim2 further comprising a server that receives a content purchase requestand provides the content usage rule which makes the content utilizationavailable to the request side, in response to the received purchaserequest, wherein the user terminal further includes: a transmission unitoperable to send a content purchase request to the server and, as aresponse, receive a content usage rule for the requested content fromthe server; and a usage rule sending unit operable to send the contentusage rule to the content usage rule management device via a wirelesscommunication, the content usage rule management device includes a usagerule receiving unit operable to receive a usage rule from the userterminal, and the copyright data storage management unit stores thereceived content usage rule.
 4. The content usage rule management systemaccording to claim 3, wherein the content usage rule management devicefurther includes: a user interface unit operable to notify a contractorof the content usage rule management device that a content is availableupon receipt of the content usage rule from the user terminal.
 5. Thecontent usage rule management system according to claim 4, wherein thecontent usage rule management device further includes a transmissionunit that sends a content purchase request to the server, and, as aresponse, receives a content usage rule for the requested content fromthe server, and the user interface unit accepts an input for a contentpurchase from a contractor.
 6. The content usage rule management systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the user interface unit in the contentusage rule management device, when the contractor permits a contentutilization to another content user, accepts a setup input of a priorityfor each users for permitting the content utilization from thecontractor, and the copyright data processing unit creates the contentutilization permission data based on the priority order.
 7. The contentusage rule management system according to claim 4, wherein the userinterface unit in the content usage rule management device, when acontent user and a contractor are different, accepts the input forgiving a permission from the contractor to the user for a contentutilization, and the copyright data processing unit judges based on theinput for a permission from the user interface unit for the firstconsideration, and creates a content utilization permission data, whichindicates a content utilization availability, based on the judge result.8. The content usage rule management system according to claim 4,wherein the user interface unit in the content usage rule managementdevice accepts an input for setting a level for a user, who isdesignated by the contractor beforehand, regarding a content utilizationpermission for a user besides the contractor, and the copyright dataprocessing unit creates the content utilization permission data based onthe level of the user.
 9. The content usage rule management systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the user interface unit in the contentusage rule management device accepts a setup input that the contractor'spermission input is necessary from the user interface in response to theinquiry result from a user who is designated by the contractorbeforehand, and the copyright data processing unit creates the contentutilization permission data based on the input for the permission fromthe user interface.
 10. The content usage rule management systemaccording to claim 3, wherein the user interface unit in the contentusage rule management device accepts an input for a backup request,which is a request for the stored content usage rule to be recoded tothe server, from the contractor, the transmission unit sends the backuprequest, which includes the stored content usage rule, to the server,and the server further includes a backup data recording unit thatreceives the backup request and records the content usage rule for thebackup request.
 11. The content usage rule management system accordingto claim 10, wherein the user interface unit in the content usage rulemanagement device accepts an input for a restore request, which is arequest for using the content usage rule for the backup request, fromthe contractor, the transmission unit sends the restore request to theserver and receive the content usage rule recorded in the server, as aresponse to the restore request, from the server, and the server furtherincludes a restore unit that receives the restore request and sends thecontent usage rule recorded in the backup data recording unit to therequest side.
 12. The content usage rule management system according toclaim 1, wherein the copyright data processing unit in the content usagerule management device further includes a time management unit thatobtains a current time, checks whether the content usage rule is expiredor not, and creates a content utilization permission data, whichindicates the content utilization is not permitted, as the judge resultof the content usage rule to the inquiry result for the stored contentusage rule expired.
 13. A user terminal that provides a contentutilization to users based on a content utilization permission data fora content usage rule management device, which is a portable deviceequipped with a copyright management function, comprising: a utilizationunit having a playback device and a user interface for providing adesired content utilization to users; and an inquiry unit operable toinquire a content utilization availability of the utilization unit tothe content usage rule management device via a wireless communicationand obtain a content utilization permission data, which is a result ofthe inquiry, from the content usage rule management device via awireless communication, and the utilization unit provides the contentutilization based on the obtained content utilization permission data.14. The user terminal according to claim 13, wherein the user terminalincludes a plurality of the utilization units that provides a contentutilization to a plurality of users in parallel, the inquiry unitinquires the content utilization availability to a plurality of thecontent usage rule management devices and obtain a plurality of thecontent utilization permission data, and the each utilization unitprovides the content utilization in parallel based on the plurality ofthe content utilization permission data received from the plurality ofthe content usage rule management devices.
 15. The user terminalaccording to claim 14 further including: a transmission unit operable tosend a content purchase request, and as a response, receive a requestedcontent usage rule to and from a server, which receives a contentpurchase request, and in response to the received content purchaserequest, provide the content usage rule which makes the contentutilization available; and a usage rule sending unit operable to sendthe received content usage rule to the content usage rule managementdevice via a wireless communication.
 16. A content usage rule managementdevice that stores a content usage rule and manages a contentutilization in a user terminal, comprising: a copyright data storagemanagement unit operable to store and manage the content usage rulewhich makes the content utilization available; an inquiry-resultreceiving unit operable to receive an inquiry result for a contentutilization availability from the user terminal via a wirelesscommunication; a copyright data processing unit operable to judge anavailability for a content utilization in the user terminal based on thestored content usage rule in response to the received inquiry result andcreate a content utilization permission data from the judge result; anda permission unit operable to send the created content utilizationpermission data to the user terminal via a wireless communication. 17.The content usage rule management device according to claim 16 furtherincludes a user interface unit that notifies to a contractor of thecontent usage rule management device that a content is available uponreceipt of the content usage rule from the terminal device.
 18. Thecontent usage rule management device according to claim 17 furtherincludes a transmission unit that sends a content purchase request tothe server, and as a response, receives a requested content usage rulefrom the server, and the user interface unit accepts an input for acontent purchase from a contractor.
 19. The content usage rulemanagement device according to claim 18, wherein the user interface unitin the content usage rule management device accepts an input for abackup request, which is a request for recording the stored contentusage rule to the server, from the contractor, and the transmission unitsends the backup request including a details of the stored content usagerule to the server.
 20. The content usage rule management deviceaccording to claim 19, wherein the user interface unit in the contentusage rule management device accepts an input for a restore request,which is a request for using the content usage rule for the backuprequest, from the contractor, and the transmission unit sends therestore request to the server, and as a response, receive a details ofthe content usage rule recorded in the server.
 21. The content usagerule management device according to claim 17, wherein the user interfaceunit in the content usage rule management device, when the contractorpermits a content utilization to another content user, accepts a setupinput of a priority for each users for permitting the contentutilization from the contractor, and the copyright data processing unitcreates the content utilization permission data based on the priorityorder.
 22. The content usage rule management device according to claim17, wherein the user interface unit in the content usage rule managementdevice, when a content user and a contractor are different, accepts theinput for giving a permission from the contractor to the user for acontent utilization, and the copyright data processing unit judges basedon the input for a permission from the user interface unit for the firstconsideration, and creates a content utilization permission data, whichindicates a content utilization availability, based on the judge result.23. The content usage rule management device according to claim 17,wherein the user interface unit in the content usage rule managementdevice accepts an input for setting a level for a user, who isdesignated by the contractor beforehand, regarding a content utilizationpermission for a user besides the contractor, and the copyright dataprocessing unit creates the content utilization permission data based onthe level of the user.
 24. The content usage rule management deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein the user interface unit in the contentusage rule management device accepts a setup input that the contractor'spermission input is necessary from the user interface in response to theinquiry result from a user who is designated by the contractorbeforehand, and the copyright data processing unit creates the contentutilization permission data based on the input for the permission fromthe user interface.
 25. The content usage rule management deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein the copyright data processing unit in thecontent usage rule management device further includes a time managementunit that obtains a current time, checks whether the content usage ruleis expired or not, and creates a content utilization permission data,which indicates the content utilization is not permitted, as the judgeresult of the content usage rule to the inquiry result for the storedcontent usage rule expired.
 26. A server that provides a content usagerule which makes a content utilization available, comprising: a backuprequest receiving unit operable to receive a backup request which is arequest to record the details of the content usage rule stored in acontent usage rule management device to the server, including the storeddetails of the content usage rule; and a backup data recording unitoperable to record a details of the content usage rule for the backuprequest.
 27. The server according to claim 26 further comprising: arestore request receiving unit operable to receive a restore request forusing the content usage rule for the backup request; and a restore unitoperable to send details of the content usage rule recorded in thebackup data recording unit to a request side based on the receivedrestore request.
 28. A content usage rule management method for a systemcomprising a user terminal to provide a content utilization for usersand a content usage rule management device to store a content usage rulefor permitting a content utilization in the user terminal and manage thecontent utilization, the content usage rule management method includingin the user terminal: a utilization step of providing a desired contentutilization to users; and an inquiry step of inquiring the contentutilization availability in the utilization step via a wirelesscommunication and obtaining a content utilization permission data, whichis a result of the inquiry, from the content usage rule managementdevice via a wireless communication, wherein in the utilization step,the content utilization is provided based on the obtained contentutilization permission data, and the content usage rule managementmethod includes in the content usage rule management device which is aportable device: a copyright data storage management step of storing andmanaging the content utilization in the content usage rule managementdevice which is a portable device; an inquiry result receiving step ofreceiving a content utilization availability with the user terminal viaa wireless communication; a copyright data processing step of judging acontent utilization availability in the user terminal based on thestored content usage rule in response to the received inquiry result andcreating a content utilization permission data from a judge result; anda permission step of sending the created content utilization permissiondata to the user terminal via a wireless communication.
 29. The contentusage rule management method according to claim 28 further comprising aplurality of the utilization steps of providing a content utilization toa plurality of users in parallel in the user terminal, wherein in theinquiry step, the content utilization availability is inquired to aplurality of the content usage rule management devices and a pluralityof the content utilization permission data are obtained, and in the eachutilization step, the content utilization is provided in parallel basedon the plurality of the content utilization permission data receivedfrom the plurality of the content usage rule management devices.
 30. Thecontent usage rule management method according to claim 29, wherein thesystem further includes a server that receives a content purchaserequest and provides the content usage rule, which makes the contentutilization available, to a request side in response to the receivedpurchased request, the content usage rule management method furtherincludes in the user terminal: a transmission step of sending a contentpurchase request to the server, and as a response, receiving a requestedcontent usage rule from the server; and a usage rule send step ofsending the received content usage rule to the content usage rulemanagement device via a wireless communication, the content usage rulemanagement method includes, in the content usage rule management device,a usage rule receiving step of receiving the content usage rule from theuser terminal in the content usage rule management device, and in thecopyright data storage management step, the received content usage ruleis stored.
 31. The content usage rule management method according toclaim 30 further comprising, in the content usage rule managementdevice, a user interface step of notifying a contractor of the contentusage rule management device that a content utilization is availableupon receipt of the content usage rule form the user terminal.
 32. Thecontent usage rule management method according to claim 30 furthercomprising, in the content usage rule management device, a transmissionstep of sending a content purchase request to the server, and as aresponse, receiving a requested content utilization from the server,wherein in the user interface step, an input for a content purchase froma contractor is accepted.
 33. The content usage rule management methodaccording to claim 32, wherein in the user interface step in the contentusage rule management device, when the contractor permits a contentutilization to another user, an setup input of a priority for each usersfor permitting the content utilization is accepted from the contractor,and in the copyright data processing step, the content utilizationpermission data is created based on the priority order.
 34. The contentusage rule management method according to claim 30, wherein in the userinterface step in the content usage rule management device, when acontent user and a contractor are different, the input for giving apermission from the contractor to the user for a content utilization isaccepted, and in the copyright data processing step, the input forpermission from the user interface unit is judged for the firstconsideration and a content utilization permission data, which indicatesa content utilization availability, is created based on the judgeresult.
 35. The content usage rule management method according to claim30, wherein in the user interface step in the usage rule managementdevice, an input for setting a level for a user, who is designated bythe contractor beforehand, is accepted regarding for a contentutilization permission from a user besides the contractor, and in thecopyright data processing step, the content utilization permission datais created based on the level of the user.
 36. The content usage rulemanagement method according to claim 30, wherein in the user interfacestep in the usage rule management device, a setup input that thecontractor's permission input is necessary from the user interface isaccepted in response to the inquiry result from a user who is designatedby the contractor beforehand, and in the copyright data processing step,the content utilization permission data is created based on an input fora permission using the interface.
 37. The content usage rule managementmethod according claim 28, wherein in copyright data processing step inthe content usage rule management device, a current time is obtained,whether the content usage rule is expired or not is checked, and acontent utilization permission data, which indicates the contentutilization is not permitted, is created as the judge result of thecontent usage rule to the inquiry result for the stored content usagerule after the content usage rule expired.
 38. The content usage rulemanagement method according to claim 28, wherein in the user interfacestep in the content usage rule management device, an input for a backuprequest, which is a request for the stored content usage rule to berecorded to the server, is accepted from the contractor, in thetransmission step, a backup request, which includes the stored contentusage rule, is sent to the server, and the content usage rule managementmethod further includes in the server a backup data recording step ofreceiving the backup request and recording a details of the contentusage rule for the backup request.
 39. The content usage rule managementmethod according to claim 38, wherein in the user interface step in thecontent usage rule management device an input for a restore request,which is a request for using the content usage rule for the backuprequest, is accepted from the contractor, in the transmission step, therestore request is sent to the server and the content usage rulerecorded in the server is received as a response to the restore request,from the server, and the content usage rule management method furtherincludes in the server a restore step of receiving the restore requestand sending a details of the content usage rule recorded in the backupdata recording step to a request side.
 40. A program for a user terminalin a content usage rule management system comprising a user terminal toprovide a content utilization to users and a content usage rulemanagement device to store a content usage rule for a contentutilization which has a permission and manages the content utilization,the program causing a computer to function as: a utilization unit havinga reproduction device and a user interface for providing a desiredcontent utilization to users; an inquiry unit operable to inquire thecontent utilization availability for the utilization unit in the contentusage rule management device via a wireless communication and obtain thecontent utilization permission data, which is a result of the inquiry,from the content usage rule management device via a wirelesscommunication; and a utilization management unit operable, to manage thecontent utilization by the utilization unit based on the obtainedcontent utilization permission data.
 41. A program for a user terminalin a content usage rule management system comprising a user terminal toprovide a content utilization to users and a content usage rulemanagement device to store a content usage rule for a contentutilization which has a permission and manages the content utilization,wherein the content usage rule management device is a portable device,the program causes a computer to function as: a copyright data storagemanagement unit operable to store and manage the content usage rule; aninquiry result receiving unit operable to receive the contentutilization availability from the user terminal via a wirelesscommunication; a copyright data processing unit operable to judge thecontent utilization availability in the user terminal and create acontent utilization permission data from the judge result; and apermission unit operable to send the created content utilizationpermission data to the user terminal via a wireless communication.